The surface of the geothermal basins in the park huffs, puffs and bubbles away because of the heat of the magma so close under the soil. Visitors to Yellowstone get a glimpse into just how thin the crust of the earth is. The sheer magnitude of this force of nature is clearly visible here, where an earthquake literally moved a mountain and created a new lake only a few decades ago. At Quake Lake, you can literally see the how earthquakes - one of the most dramatic geological phenomena - change our world. Throw in some good sunny weather - not hard to do during July or August - and you have the perfect setting for a day out in beautiful Montana.īut this place offers much more than just a pretty view. This is wild Montana at its best: Forests, mountains, lakes and wildlife. There are two excellent reasons to visit this small lake in Montana.įirst, it's beautiful. It will fill your heart with awe, as you witness first-hand the sheer scale of the geological forces that shape the face of our planet. Only half an hour's drive from the town of West Yellowstone, this place is both beautiful and awesome, in the most literal sense of the word.
You can also see the epicenter of the earthquake from this highway.If you're visiting Yellowstone National Park, there's a special little side trip you can - and should - make. This road travels by a ghost village that was submerged by flooding after the earthquake and a refugee point. To see even more, take a drive down Highway 287. One of these boulders has a plaque honoring the 28 people who died in this tragedy. Huge boulders that were carried by the landslide remain. The exhibit also features recollections from survivors.Even today, the effects of this earthquake can easily be seen. Some of the most fascinating pieces are a working seismograph and pictures from shortly after the earthquake. There are many exhibits with a wealth of information about earthquakes and the effects it had on this area. This earthquake was the largest to ever strike Montana in known history and is also one of the worst known in all America.Now, guests can visit Quake Lake for themselves to learn more about the earthquake.
The damages to roads and buildings totaled $11 million. Many homes and cabins were destroyed and 28 people lost their life to this great natural disaster. This interruption caused the water to spread upstream and create what is now known as Quake Lake.Īftershocks persisted in the area for several months, some as strong as 6.5 on the Richter scale.
#Quake lake map crack#
The landslide and seiche caused Hebgen Dam to crack and erode and interrupted the flow of Madison River. Nearby geysers in Yellowstone National Park erupted and the water in the hot springs became muddy.The water in Hebgen Lake became tumultuous and created a seiche, which is a wave effect caused by wind and water. It created 20 feet high fault scrapes, the displacement on land by movement along a fault.
The earthquake caused an 80 ton landslide to travel 100 miles per hour down Sheep Mountain. On August 17, 1959, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck southwestern Montana.
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